Horace Delmar Beasley was born on April 6, 1944. He was child number 18 of Mae and George Beasley who had a total of 19 children. Child number 19 was a little girl given the name of Evertice Mae which only lived three months and thirteen days. This leaving Delmar the last baby boy of the Beasley family. Delmar were born while the family was living at the Saunders Farm about 4 miles north of Burgaw, NC near Highway 117. He grew up to be a happy young boy and were given much attention by the rest of the family. As a young child, Delmar loved to listen to music on the old family battery radio. Gospel music was his favorite. Gospel music became an important factor throughout his life. As a young child he loved to play in the sand in the yard with his toy cars and trucks. He would build roads through the sand and run his vehicles on them. All of us boys at that early age enjoyed playing in the sand. Mom would tell us not to craw in the sand as this would make holes in our pants and she would have to sew patches on them. When Delmar became school age, he soon found out that going to school was not what he wanted to do. He stopped going to school after 4 or 5 years as Mom and Dad needed him at home to help on the farm. Delmar dropping out of school was a big mistake for him throughout his life. He was unable to read and write only for a few words.

Delmar and his brother Mack grew up close to each other and enjoyed doing things together, feeding the animals and going to visit neighbors in the area. As a young boy, Delmar develope a desire to learn how to play the guitar. His brother Joe had saved enough money to buy a 14 dollar guitar from the Western Auto Store there in Burgaw. This guitar would bring big smiles on Delmar face when he had it in his hands. Our cousin, Carroll Cowan, taught him how to play three cords on the guitar. (G, C, and D) After he learned how to play those cords, he had trouble knowing when to play the right cord for the song he was trying to play on the guitar. Paul Ward, a friend of Delmar, taught him when to change the cords in a song by the sound and words of the song. As he grew older in life, he always had two or three guitars with him whereever he went. At one time he had an inventory of 14 guitars. He loved working on them, changing strings, tuning keys or installing pick-ups on them. He said he kept two or three with him most of the time because if he met someone that played the guitar, they could play together. Delmar would ofter visit different churches in the area where he lived and always had his guitar with him. Sometimes the church pastor would invite Delmar to play and sing a church hymn for them. I recall Delmar singing the song, (How Can You Refuse Him Now) This was one of his favorite songs.

Delmar had a love of working with hand tools. He had accumulated a large collection of tools over the years. He was always willing to help anyone who needed help in doing whatever needed to be done. He worked with Godwin Oil and Lumber Company in Wilmington, NC for many years.

At age 28, Delmar was introduced to a young lady with two children, Helen Ray Woodcock Pridgen. They grew fond of each other and were married on 23 July 1972. This marriage only lasted a few years and they went their seperate ways. Delmar later met another lady by the name of Linda Diane Simmons and they were married on 22 September 1977. They had no children. Linda passed away on 11 November 1995. As time passed, Delmar was introduced to a lady by the name of Carry Ward. They became fond of each other and were married on 10 April 1996. They had a good life together and were good for each other. Carrie passed away on 24 September 2010 due to failing health. After a couple of years of Carrie passing away, Delmar were introduce by his neighbor to a lady by the name of Nancy who lived alone. The two of them enjoyed being together and Delmar would take Nancy to different places that she wanted to go. The two became good friends and it remained that way up until Nancy's health failed her and she passed away about six years after they met. This was another set-back for Delmar as Nancy was someone special that Delmar enjoyed being with.

As the years followed, Delmar always enjoyed coming back to Burgaw to visit friends he had become acquainted with during the years of his life. Delmar's last home place was located at Jones Place Apartment, Unit 107-A in Whiteville, NC. Here he had several friends that would come by and visit with him. He always enjoyed having visitors. One being Mr. Bryan Fowler who gave so much of his time to help Delmar in so many ways over the last years of Delmar's life. The family will always be greatful to Mr. Fowler for all the sacrifices he made to help make life a little better for Delmar.

In January of 2024, Delmar's health was failing him to the point the doctor ordered that he be relocated to the Premier Living Rehab Rest Home at Lake Waccamaw, NC. Delmar seem to be satisfied at this new home for him. He said the people there alway treated him very nice and he was pleased with everything except he said the food wasen't fitting for a dog to eat.

Delmar was preceded in death by his mother Lemuel Mae Hardison and father George Pierce Beasley of Burgaw, Baby Beasley Girl of Warsaw, Mary Caroline and Vernon McIntosh of Jacksonville, Gladys and Robert Worrell of Burgaw, George William and Evertice Beasley of St. Petersburg, Florida, Luther Caswell and Della Mae Beasley of Burgaw, Catheleen Beasley Eaton of Florida, Lenwood Bryan and Shirley Beasley of Cove City, Baby Girl Betty Mae Beasley of Verona, Lemuel Issac Beasley of Leland, Baby Boy Beasley of Verona, Troy Turlington and Barbara Beasley of Louisville, Kentucky, Carroll Pierce and Landis Beasley of Burgaw, Horace Mae and Shirley Mae Beasley of Verona, Earl McNeal and Janice Beasley of Carthage, Evertice Mae of Burgaw.

He has one surviving brother Joseph Thomas Beasley of Harkers Island, NC. He has several nieces and Nephews and their family.

The family will receive friends at 11:00 AM Wednesday January 29, 2025 at Harrell's Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 PM at Harrell's Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend William Hill Pearsall officiating. Burial will follow at Dawson Community First Church of God, 2311 Dawson Cabin Rd. Jacksonville, NC 28450